The Sacrifice and the Sprint    

"That went better than expected," Horizon muttered, scanning the endless expanse of sand before them. "Looks like we've landed in the desert this time. Nyx, can you pick up on the exit's energy?"

Nyx circled above, her wings slicing through the dry air. "Not sensing anything unusual here," she called down. "But I can pinpoint the monolith's location."

"Seriously?"

"Ever since I picked up on the monolith's energy back there—both its dormant and active states—I can track it now," Nyx explained, voice confident.

Horizon nodded, considering. "But what if the exit needs to be triggered like the monoliths? That might explain why you don't sense it right now."

Nyx shook her head. "The exit's connection leads directly to the outside world, so it operates independently of this dimension's rules. It should stay accessible, radiating a distinct energy that I'd easily detect. I'll know it the moment we're close."